10 Best Used Cars Under $3,000

2014 Hyundai Accent ・ Photo by Hyundai

When a car is worth less than $3,000, the free market has written it off as undesirable. Prospective buyers have seen it listed for sale and moved on — due to its age, mileage, condition, or make and model. It’s not even that a sub-$3,000 car is undesirable, but that buyers assume it’s about to need repairs so expensive that it makes more sense to spend that money on a better car upfront. And often enough... they’re right.

But if your finances keep you on a strict budget, and you’re prepared for the possibility of needing repairs, we’ve rounded up the 10 best used cars under $3,000. We’ve confirmed that these models are generally available at these prices, but so much of the sub-$3,000 market is about luck: who’s selling a decent car for such a low price at the time you’re trying to buy. And like any used car, a lot depends on the mechanical condition of the individual car you’re looking at, and getting a mechanic’s opinion is invaluable.

1. 2010 Hyundai Accent

We’re going to just say it: The Hyundai Accent is the best car you can buy for under $3,000, standing head and shoulders above the other widely available options we dredged up at this price point. This subcompact four-door sedan and three-door hatchback is simple and reliable, yet because Hyundai’s reputation trails Honda’s or Toyota’s, prices are kept in check. That’s the perfect combination for a very cheap used car: a decent vehicle that the broad market doesn’t trust. (In contrast, most decent-condition Hondas and Toyotas we found were much more expensive.)

We found a wide variety of 2016-2011 Accent models available for under $3,000, and this generation boasts user-friendly controls, an airy cabin (at least for the front seat), agreeable driving dynamics, and great gas mileage. You won’t get many frills, but at this price, are frills your top priority? You can also consider the 2016-2011 Kia Rio, a mechanical twin to the Accent.

Photo by Hyundai

2. 2010 Ford Focus

One size larger than the Hyundai Accent, the Ford Focus is another decent used car that’s frequently available for less than $3,000. The Focus earned a terrible reputation for reliability thanks to a rash of problems in the early 2000s and then a faulty automatic transmission that arrived in 2012. But models between then have been less problematic, and this reputation keeps all Focus prices in check. (Anecdotally, your author previously owned a 2007 Focus that’s still going strong in his sister’s hands.)

A key advantage to the Focus over the Accent is its driving experience. The Accent is a pure transportation appliance, while the Focus brings extra power and sportier handling. The 2005-2007 Focus is perhaps the best-driving generation, combining a peppy engine with sharp steering responses, but more folks will prefer the 2008-2011 model because a newer car will generally have more life left than an older one. These Focus years also brought Bluetooth cellphone connectivity earlier than most cars, a convenience you won’t often find for under $3,000.

Photo by Ford

3. 2009 Nissan Versa

The Nissan Versa spent years as the cheapest car sold in America, with base prices below $10,000 new. Most people bought better-equipped models for a little bit more money, but this generously roomy, smooth-riding subcompact sedan and five-door hatchback was always a great deal.

That value carries over to the used market, where early Versas (the model debuted as a 2007 model) are available for less than $10,000. The Versa hasn’t earned the unkillable reliability record of some small cars, but that’s why you can buy comparatively new examples of this impressively spacious vehicle at bargain-basement prices.

Photo by Nissan

4. 2006 Chevrolet Impala

If you’re looking for a bigger car but still want to spend under $3,000, a leading option is the Chevrolet Impala. The Impala sold from 2000 to 2013 used the same underlying mechanical equipment as General Motors’ large-midsize sedans since the 1980s, and all are known for their longevity.

The Impala wasn’t stylish or modern, and it’s not as roomy as you’d expect for such a big car. But it’s relatively comfortable and has a strong reliability record for a car that’s available at this price point — especially if you don’t want a little car. The 2006 model year brought a more modern interior and more powerful engines, so that’s our pick over the older models if you’re able to be picky.

Photo by Chevrolet

5. 2006 Hyundai Sonata

We return to South Korea for another Hyundai vehicle — this time, the Sonata mid-size sedan. The 2006 and newer Sonata was the first Korean vehicle that was widely considered an equal to its Japanese competitors, bringing crisp styling, a well-finished interior, top-tier engines, a spacious cabin, and generous standard safety equipment for its time. The latter is particularly great news when you’re looking for a used car costing less than $3,000, since many of your options will lack side-curtain airbags and electronic stability control.

Like the Hyundai Accent, the Sonata has a reliability record that belies its price point — meaning you should be able to get one that’s newer and lower-mileage than similarly priced competitors. We also like the mechanically related Kia Optima, but we didn’t find as many sub-$3,000 examples of this slower-selling model.

Photo by Hyundai

6. 2003 Honda Accord

Hondas and Toyotas are many people’s default recommendations for a used car that lasts forever. That means that if you’re trying to spend less than $3,000, most of the good ones are out of your budget — leaving you with older, higher-mileage, or damaged vehicles.

The good news is we found some Accord mid-size sedans within this budget, and the Accord is a comfortable sedan that also manages to provide dialed-in handling performance. The bad news is that most of these Accords were more than 15 years old and already had more than 200,000 miles on them. That means that the previous owner already took advantage of Honda’s famous reliability, not that you can expect similar results when you buy it from them. But if you feel more comfortable with one of the top names, the Accord is a fine choice that’s also going to be enjoyable to drive for as long as it holds out.

Photo by Honda

7. 2003 Toyota Corolla

Like the Honda Accord, the Toyota Corolla is a famously durable vehicle — and it costs a premium on the used-car market because of that. In fact, the Corolla is so renowned that we saw its prices exceeding the bigger, more expensive Accord and Toyota’s Camry.

If you’re dedicated to a Corolla, we’d advise a 2003 or newer model if you can swing it; it’s still not going to feel like a luxury car, but earlier models were old-school penalty boxes — cramped, noisy, slow, and looking even older than they were. And just remember: You’re buying an old, used-up car in the hope that you’ll squeeze more life out of it. Reputation or not, keep your expectations in check and be prepared to make repairs.

Photo by Toyota

8. 2004 Toyota Prius

Another Toyota to consider is the famous Prius hybrid. Plummeting gas prices have driven down the values of used Prius vehicles, which means that you can find some examples of the iconic 2004-2009 generation for less than $3,000 today. Plus, you get the lower operating costs that come with a fuel-sipping hybrid.

When Toyota first released the Prius as a 2000 model, skeptics doubted that the complex gas-electric powertrain would stand the test of time, and suggested its electric battery would be an inevitable and costly repair job. Those dire predictions did not come to pass, and the Prius is instead considered one of the most reliable cars in recent memory. Starting with 2004, it also brought the versatility of a five-door hatchback layout.

Photo by Toyota

9. 2002 Lincoln Town Car

The opposite of the small, fuel-swilling, eco-minded Toyota Prius is the Lincoln Town Car — a big, gas-guzzling dinosaur of a car whose hardy durability makes it a viable purchase even for less than $3,000. These jumbo-sized luxury sedans have the same bones as the iconic Ford Crown Victoria police car and taxicab, yet with posh leather seats rather than vomit-resistant vinyl.

You can also find Crown Victorias in this price point, along with the third piece of Ford’s full-size trio: the Mercury Grand Marquis. But when the opportunity presents itself, we’ll pick the Lincoln over its humbler brethren.

Photo by Lincoln

10. 2001 Lexus ES 300

A less-dated luxury option at this bargain price point is the Lexus ES 300. Unlike most luxury cars, this isn’t an intricately engineered sports sedan that’s expensive to repair when it breaks down. A $3,000 BMW can quickly become a $6,000 BMW once the repair bills start arriving, but the ES 300 is just a more stylish version of the Toyota Camry with better-quality leather seats.

As with all cars at this price point, we’d close with the caveat that even the most reliable vehicle is eventually going to need repairs — and when you’re spending just $3,000, that time is likely close at hand. That said, we’d rather roll our dice on an ES 300 than most similarly cheap luxury-brand vehicles. Buyers can look for the same benefits, minus a high-end badge, in similar-vintage Toyota Avalons.

Photo by Lexus